Apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate or superphosphate



T. J. STURIEVANT. APPARATUS'FOR MANUFACTURING ACID PHOSPHATE OR SUQPERPHOSPHATE.

APPLICA ION FILED APR.26.1921.

Patented Jan. 17,, 1922" 4 sHthTS SHEET 1- T. J. STURTEVANT. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ACID PHOSPHATE 0R SUPERPHOSPHATE. APPLICATON FILED APYL2611921- LQQZLSZQ. Paiented Jan. 17, 1922.

4 SHhtfS-SHEET 2.

T. J. STURltVANT. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURIWJ- ACID PHOSPHATE OR SUPERPHOSPHATE.

APPLECATION FILED APR.26, 1 1

m 3 5 12% Parented Jall. 1'7, 1922.

4 SHhhfSSHEET 3.

F d I I M5 1v 4 7 T. J. STURTEVANT. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ACID PHOSPHATE 0R SUPERPHOSPHATE.

APPLICATION FILE D APR.Z6, I921.

Patented Jan. 1'7, 1922.

4 SHthl'S SHEET 4.

To (all Hill-07% it may; concern:

Be it known that THOMAS J. SIURTE- mm, a cilizen of the United States, residing at ilellesley, county of Norfolk, and Stat-e of Massac-husssts. have invented-an Improvement in i-lq'ipziraiiis for I'v'ianufao luring Acid Phosphziie or Superphosphate, of which -Lhe following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on. the lraw ingrs reprcsenting lil'e garts.

The invenSion to he heeina' ielu lo ai'ipuratus for man iacturing acid phosphate 01- superphosphu e. i hos hate rock it occurs in. nature is unfit for use L18. :1 x-tilizer on account of insollhility.

' is necessary to treat she phos- 1h '0 as to convert the insoluble phosphates therein into soluble phosphates 2 ch can he applied to the soil and 21s- 1 by plants. This may be accomiy mixing the ground phosphate an arid. such, for example; as

l ter described .he mixed ground phosphate roc c'and dilute acid may he introduced into a ien or chamber and allowed to stand therein a sufiicient time for the chemical reaction to take place. Then the xiiixture may he picked down oriiisintegzrated, removed iom ihe den and conveyed to, a curing pile where it is allowed "so remain a; lime for the chemical reaction to continue, and further conrert insoluble phosphoric acid into soluble phosphoric acid 1 The present invention orovicles an efiicient. practical apparatiis whereby she mixture of ground phosphate rock rind acid. he continuously delirererl into a den or chain her. Means may he provided progressively to mlrunce the mixturenloog the den and present the same to a (lisinteprzitor or cutter which breaks down or disinte'grates the marerini, therehy liberating steam or moisture therefrom. Then the disinteg Merl materials are conveyed to a curing pile.

Noxious; fumes :iccompa; J eF- ehemicul reaction. and are trying sml in'r rious to the workmen. The apparatus or the present invention designed to enclose Ce making it unnecessary for the come in (:(eiiliCl. tiiei'ewilh.

The character of the in'ventioi hest understood hr-rei'erence w {l workmen 55 may he i r followc ing; descri} on of one good form thereof shown in the accom 'izmying drawings. P9 wherein I Fig. l is a side elevation of 11 11 "his Z 111;; broken away to disclose parts he, s

i embodying the invention, ceriair p (Milli; G5

U2, 9 w i P- A 1b ul hlldi mlilfilfiil ihrougli the r 1g. 5 on an enlzrgul sc is 21 \'7"i('2ll section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

4- 1s 2! plan of the immoral! 5 shown 7G 1) on fill enlergwl scale vertical. section to en on line :LJA oi lig. i;

31' 15 a vertical secliioi through the lower end portion of the dc enlarged on {all enlarger} scale cei'nil taken (in-line B--r'% or Fig. 5) is a transverse den l1. Mn on line 5-) Refering to the (lrawin shown therein one good .10 volition, comprises a i rwme :ippmfatus ill oi the insnpporimg the den, which may is my sui'lziole character; and in ti '0? a'nci. coir prises uprights 1 My 2) convel iently of Lheam form 1. heir ower ends resting on :1 lioor 3- or concrete or other suitable conslruction. The lower eri'ls of so the uprights may he hell in proper spliced relziiion by base siruts 5, and iheir upper ends carry A horizontal T. The frame may he furiiher strengthened h (lizig x'mal braces 9. v 95 l9 and. a f2l ii'hich may be oli seit outthe upper portion 233 are provided at the Jeni. extend ze'tween coco will cesses I /Iovable side wall portions :25 may be brovided having I-beam ribs 12. lhe upper ends of the Willl portions 25 may be connected by hinges 2%) (Figs. l. l and 8)) with the upper wall 21.

It; is desirable that the wall portions 27 may swing yieldingly outward. to reduce the friction bet-ween the solid mass which is fed downward through the den. as more fully hereinafter described. To accomplish this. bolts 33 may be entered through flanges 35 extending along the tops of the concrete beams 12, and said bolts may be entered through the wall .rib:- 27. (oil springs 37 encircle the bolts. and are contined betvveen the ribs 27 and nuts 25$) on the bolts. The construction is such that. the \vall'portions 25 are susceptible of a limited yielding outward movement.

The den or chamber has a top a l (big. apertured to receive a. pipe 43 adapted to feed the mixture of ground phosphate rock and. acid into the den from a mixer of any suitable construction. and therefore. unnecessary to disclose herein. The top is also apertured to receive a pipe .5 which may be Connected to a fan or exhauster of usual construction. and therefore. unnecessary to disclose herein. The construction is such that the noxious fumes and steam accom panying the chemical reaction in the upper end of the den may be d awn therefrom through the pipe l The. mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid is in the. form of a molten or sludge-like mass when introduced into the den. but after the chemical reaction has continued a time. it changes to a spongy mass or solid form. it is. therefore. desirable to provide means to prevent esnape of the sludge-like or inol'ten mass from the. lower end of the den when the. process is started. ilfter vards the mass in the lower portion of the den will have hardened suliiciently to plug. up the lower end of the den and pre vent theescape of the sludgedihe or molten mass which is introduced into the upper end of the den above the solid mass.

lherefore, it is d sirable to provide a removable door or closure for the. lower end of the den. in the present instance. av door 47 (l igs. 2. t3 and T) is provided having longitudinal ribs 49 cmiveniently of I-beam form. project beyond the door and seat into ro- 51 (Fig. (i) in the concrete beams 12 referred to. The upper ends of the ribs ll) may project beyond the door. and may be secured by yoke latches 52% pivoted to brackets 5: and provided with securing screw bolts 57. .l chain 59 (Fig. 5) may have b'anch portions (31. connected to st: ples 3 secured to the door. The construction is such that after the lower mass of the mix tare has hardened s utliciently, the latches 5?,

The lower ends of these ribs may' may be released, and the door may be pulled up by the chain 55) and removed from the den.

Preferably the floor 11 is pitched at a predetermined angle. such that the friction d eti'ect between the mass and the tloor will I sufficient barely to prevent the mass flu'i sliding down along the floor. The con sequence is that the means to more the mass along the floor may operate with a small amount of poiver.

Any suitable means may be provided to ad vance the solid mass down along the inclined floor of the den. This mains. in the present instance. comprises a pair of endless conveyors conveniently in the form of sprocket.

chains (if: (Figs, 1 and :2; connecting and guided by a pair of'upper sprocket wheels (37 fast on a shaft till journalled in bearings Tl (Fig. l) mounted on the upper frame 7 referred to. Suitable means may be provided to rotate the shaft T1. in the present instance. comprising a worm gear (Fig. 33) fast on the shaft T1 and meshin with and driven by a worm T5 having shaft journalled in hearings in a casing T9. .l. pulley 81 fast on the shaft-T7 may be driven by a belt from a line shaft or other source of power.

The sprocket chain (35 may be also connected to and guided by lower sprocket wheels 83 on a shaft s5 journalled in bearings Hi (Fig. l) mounted on cross beams 89 carried by certain of the uprights 1.

lhe sprocket chains may be provided with lugs or [)IOjtt'tlOIlS 91 at appropriate intervals adapted to engage the mass and positively feed the same downward through the den. The upper run of the sprocket chain may be supported. by and slide along the den floor ll.

The floor ll may terminate short of the lower end of the den. To prevent the sludge or nngll-en mass from tlowing doyvn through the space beyond the lower end of the floor ll at the coinmencemcnt of the process. hoods 92% may be provided. After the mass has hardenml sulliciently to prevent es apex of the sludge-like materials down through the opening beyond the lovver end. of the floor. the hoods fi l may be removed.

Suitable means may be provided to act on and"disintegrate the sponge-like-or solid mass as the latter is advanced downward throughthe den. This means. in the. pres a nd chum

rams for mam mpusm ",ofluce 3 Au i m .5 msmbegra mteg-m pssi Q-Win 1911 the, (100? Thi m 1 be d Commem all . P vent the molten 8 kn lereaf.

ntegm Suimbla convey the d 11 sex-w debits Ward fore.

Q can down lugs 9" the ihe mass may be I Lin .7 m a 8 f LL 0 g a t R S I U Dr H no an F0 same d0 W ailaw phatc rock and acid into the upper end at the len said den having an outlet permitting escape oi steam and tumes accompanying'the chemical reaction of the materials,

"a disintegrator adjacent the den, and means to teed the mixture after it has solidified, downward alongthe inclined den to the disintegrator,

4. An apparatus for manutacturing acid phosphate. comprising an inclined den, a frame supporting said den in inclined posh tion, means to admit a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den. a disintegrator adjacent the den. conveyor means for engaging the materials andt'or feeding the same alter they have solidified downwardalong the inclined den to the disintegrator, and means for relieving the frictional engagement between the walls ot the den and the materials as the latter move downward.

An app-a 'atus tor nmnutacturing acid phosphate comprising an inclined den means to admit a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid into the. upper end of the den, a disintegrator having cutters and i'neans for moving the cutters horizontally across the lower end of the den. and means to feed the materials alter they have solidi.- fied, down along the inclined door of the den to the, disintegratm'.

3. An ap iaratus tor manu'l'acturing acid phosphate. comprising a den having an inclined floor, means to introduce a mixture of ground phosphate roclr and acid'into the upper end ol the den, a disintegrator at the lower end of the den. and means to feed. the materials after they have solidilied, continuously down along the inclined l'ioor ol the den to the disintcgrator.

T. An apparatus for imiuuiacturing acid phosphate, comprising a den having an inclined tloor. means to introduce a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid to the upper portion of the [ham a disinlegrator at the lower end of the floor. the inclination of the floor being such as harely to prevent sliding ot the materials down along the lloor. alter they have solidified. and means to teed the soliditied materials down along the lloor to the disiutegraim'.

H. An ap nu'atus t'or nninut'acturing acid phosphate. (annprising. a den having an in- (lined lloor. means to admit a mixture oi? ground phosphate rock and acid to the up per portion of the floor, a disiutcgrator at the lower end of 'he floor. and means to feed the materials after they have solidified. down along the inclined floor to the 'disintegrator. saidden having a wall adapted to move out; ward somewhat to reduce friction on the materials as the) are ted down along the floor.

9. An, apparatus for manutncturiup acid are 1,403,820

phosphate. comprising a den having an'inclined l loor. n'ieans to admit a mixture ot ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den. a disintcgrator adjacent the lower end of the den, and disposed to operate upon a vertical face of the ma terials. and means to feed the materials atter they have changed to spongy mass form. down along the inclined l'loor to the disintegrator.

10. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, tfOlflplls'll'lg a den. means to introduce a mixture of ground phosphate roclt and acid into the upper end o'tI the den. a disintegrator at the lower end of the den. and an endless conveyor having a run passing through the den for engagement with the materials to feed tle materials after changing to spongy mass form to the disin tegrator.

11. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate. comprising a den. means to in troduce a mixture ot-ground phosphate rock and acid intothe upper end of the den. a disii'itegrator at the lower end of the den, and endless conveyors having provision for engaging the materials to feed the mass to the disintegrator atter change to spongy mass t'orm.

19. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising a denymeans to in' troduce a. mixture of ground phosphate roclt and acid into the upper end of the den a disiutegrator at the lower end of the den.

an endless conveyor having elements there-- on for Feeding the materials atter change to spongy mass form. down through the den to the disintegrator. and nieans for driving the endless conveyor including a worm gear and a worm meshing with said gear.

13. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate. comprising a den having an inclined floor. means to introduce a mixture'ot ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end or" the den, :1 disintegrator at the lower end ot the den, a door adapted to he placed hot-ween the lower end of the den and the disintcgrator to prevent molten materials from flowing out of the lower end of the den hetore change to spongy mass form, and means 'tor feeding the mass down through the den to the disiutesu'ator.

14. An apparatus for mannractlu'ing acid phosphate, comprising an inclined den haviug lixed upper wall portions and yielding lower wall portions. means to admit a mixture ol ground phosphate rock and acid into the upper end of the den. a disintegrator at the lower end of the den, and means for feeding the mixtureatter change to spongy mass torn). downward through the den to the disintegrator.

15. An apparatus for manufacturing acid phosphate, comprising a den having an inclined floor, means to admit a mixture of ground phosphate rock and acid intothe upper end ofthe den, an upright shaft at the low mountegv n said shaft, and means for feeding thdmatezia s after change to spongy and of the den, a disintegrate:

, mass form, down througfi the clan, that the lower end of the mass may be braken down by the disintegrator.

In testimony whereofll have signed my name to this spscificationg V 4 THGMAS 5 STUE'TEVANT, 

